半途而废

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: bàn tú ér fèi
• English Translation: To give up halfway (leaving things unfinished)
• Idiom Composition: 「半」（Half）＋「途」（Road, path, or the process of a journey）＋「而」（A conjunction used here to connect the state of being halfway to the action of stopping）＋「废」（To abandon, discard, or stop a process）
• Meaning: To stop doing something before it is completed. This idiom is often used with a negative connotation to criticize a lack of willpower, persistence, or determination.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「半途而废」 contains the following nuances:

• Abandonment Before Completion: The idiom refers to stopping an action by choice—often due to a lack of grit—before reaching the intended goal or destination.
• Negative Connotation: It is generally treated as a negative trait or something to be avoided. The focus is on the individual's 'giving up' rather than external circumstances that might force a stop.

3. Usage

「半途而废」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Admonishment or Life Lessons: Most frequently used to encourage oneself or others to persevere, or to warn against the habit of quitting.
  • Example:「既然决定要做，就必须坚持到底，绝不能半途而废。」
    （Since you have decided to do it, you must see it through to the end and never give up halfway.）
• Analyzing Failure: Used to identify the lack of consistency as the reason why a past effort failed to produce results.
  • Example:「他学钢琴总是半途而废，所以到现在连一首完整的曲子都弹不了。」
    （He always quits halfway when learning piano, so even now he can't play a single complete song.）
• Describing Regrettable Outcomes: Used to describe a project or plan that was forced to stop before completion, often with a sense of regret.
  • Example:「由于资金不足，这项工程只能半途而废。」
    （Due to a lack of funds, this project had to be abandoned unfinished.）

Additional Examples:

1. 学习外语最忌讳半途而废。
   （The most important thing to avoid when learning a foreign language is giving up halfway.）
2. 我不希望我的努力半途而废，所以我咬牙坚持了下来。
   （I didn't want my efforts to go to waste by quitting, so I gritted my teeth and persevered.）
3. 很多创业者失败的原因不是能力不足，而是半途而废。
   （The reason many entrepreneurs fail is not a lack of ability, but because they give up halfway.）
4. 做事半途而废的人，很难取得大的成就。
   （It is difficult for people who leave things unfinished to achieve great success.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Origin: This idiom originates from the Doctrine of the Mean (中庸), a chapter in the Book of Rites (礼记). It originally appeared in a passage where Confucius (孔子) discusses the pursuit of the 'Way' (道), stating that a person of noble character would never stop halfway.
• Modern Values: In modern Chinese culture, especially in education and business, 'persistence' (坚持 - jiān chí) is considered a core virtue. Consequently, 半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi) is frequently used as a cautionary phrase to emphasize the importance of grit.
• Nuance Comparison: While the idiom 虎头蛇尾 (hǔ tóu shé wěi), meaning 'tiger's head, snake's tail,' describes starting with great energy but ending weakly, 半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi) specifically emphasizes the total cessation or abandonment of the task.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 前功尽弃 (qián gōng jìn qì): All previous efforts are wasted or come to nothing.
  • 有始无终 (yǒu shǐ wú zhōng): To have a beginning but no end; to start something but never finish it.
  • 浅尝辄止 (qiǎn cháng zhé zhǐ): To stop after a slight attempt or taste.link
  • 自暴自弃 (zì qiáng bù xī): To give up on oneself and abandon all hope.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 坚持不懈 (jiān chí bú xiè): To persevere unremittingly; to keep going without flagging.link
  • 持之以恒 (chí zhī yǐ héng): To persevere with constancy and endurance over a long period.link

6. Summary

半途而废 (bàn tú ér fèi) is a very common idiom used to describe abandoning a task or goal before reaching the end. It is frequently used in contexts where one is criticizing a lack of resolve or encouraging someone to keep going. It is important to note that it implies a conscious choice to 'abandon' the effort rather than a temporary pause.